Reinvent Your Home . . . in a Day or Weekend

On the inside of your home . . .

• Paint or wallpaper a room
• Update the cabinet and drawer handles/pulls in your kitchen or bathroom
• Change out light fixtures, add a dimmer switch or ceiling fan
• Install new faucets and shower heads
• Assemble new bookcases or shelving to add storage space
• Hang crown molding in a room

And on the outside . . .

• Spruce up the entrance by painting your front door and adding new potted plants
• Add a birdbath
• Repair screens
• Build a fence trellis
• Plant a mini herb garden
• Power wash or repaint patio furniture

Want to get the kids and family involved in home projects? Consider building a sandbox, miniature golf course, or raised vegetable garden for the backyard. How-to videos and step-by-step instructions for these projects and more are available on ThisOldHouse.com.

If completing a few smaller changes motivates you to tackle a larger home improvement project, why not consider ones that pay off? For a typical Florida home, a wood deck addition costs $9,500 and a minor kitchen remodel costs $19,000. Not only would you enjoy using your new deck or updated kitchen, but if you were to sell your home it’s estimated that you would recoup 75% of the remodeling costs for these two projects. For more ideas, average job costs, and resale value estimates, check out Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value 2011-12 Report. Don’t forget to tell your insurance agent about completed home remodeling or renovation projects to ensure you have adequate coverage and find out if you are eligible for premium discounts.

For more tips on home improvement and caring for your castle, follow us on Facebook. Here’s a sampling of our recent Facebook posts. . . .

• Spring weather can wash away the mulch in your beds. Use a rake to fluff and level your mulch – ideally, you want 3-4 inches.
• Know Your Home: How to find out what insulation is behind your walls.
• Plumbing 101: How to repair a dripping single-handled faucet.